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LEW  IS   1L    STEINEU.   .M.  I).. 
H 

Inspector  of  %  Sarataprjj  $0mmissimt, 

CONTAINING    A 

D  I  A  R  Y 

KKPT 

.DURING  THE  REBEL  OCCUPATION  OF  FIII-MRICK.  MD. 

AM) 

AX  ArCorXT  OF  THE  OPERATIONS 

OF 

THE  U.  S.  SANITAKY  COMMISSION 


THE   CAMPAIGN*    IX    MARYLAND, 

SEPTEMBER,   1862. 
i)2  permission  of  tfoe  .Sanitarp   Commission. 


NEW  YORK: 
A  X  SOX    I) .   F .   RANDOLPH. 

N  o  .    683    BROAD  W  A  Y  . 
18G2. 


EEPOET 


OF 


LEWIS  II.   STEINER,  M.  D., 

r  of  i\)t  SiwiliiriT  Commission, 


CONTAINING    A 

D  I  A  Pv  Y 


DURING  THE  REBEL  OCCUPATION  OF  FREDERICK,  MD. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  OPERATIONS 


THE    J.  S.  SANITARY  COMMISSION 


THE  CAMPAIGN  IN  MARYLAND, 

SEFfEMBER,  1862. 
in  ^trmt5ston  of  tftt  ^anitarj  Commission. 


NEW  YORK  : 
A  N  S  O  X   D  .   F  .   II  A  X  D  O  L  P  H , 

No.    083    BROADWAY. 
1862. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S62, 

By    A  N  S  0  N    D .    F .    RANDOLPH,1. 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


EDWARD   O.   JENKINS. 

^rtntrr  anti  JStrrrotnpcr, 
No.  20  XOKTII  WILLIAM  ST. 


The  following  report  of  Dr.  STEINER,  while  it  embodies  facts  and 
incidents  which  illustrate  the  work  of  the  SANITARY  COMMISSION,  did 
not  seem  properly  to  come  within  the  limits  of  official  publication. 
As  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  war,  possessing  more  than  ordinary 
value,  it  was  thought  desirable  that  it  should  be  given  to  the  public, 
as  a  private  venture,  without  cost  to  the  treasury  of  the  Commission. 


660 


REPORT. 


FREDERICK  L.  OLMSTED,  Esq.. 

Secretary   U.  8.  Sanitary  Commission: 

IN  accordance  with  your  request,  I  have  the  honor  to  trans 
mit  an  account  of  my  operations  as  Sanitary  Inspector  during 
the  last  month.  The  engagements  which  crowd  so  thickly 
upon  me  just  now,  prevent  that  careful  preparation  which  a 
report,  including  incidents  of  such  deep  interest  to  every  Amer 
ican,  should  receive  from  the  reporter.  The  best  that  I  can 
do  is  to  give  you  as  faithful  an  account  as  my  diary  and  recol 
lections,  and  the  reports  of  other  officers  of  the  Commission, 
will  enable  me,  in  as  few  words  as  possible,  deprecating  all 
criticism  of  its  style  and  finish. 

On  reporting  for  duty  in  Washington  at  the  end  of  August, 
I  arrived  the  day  of  the  battle  at  Bull  Run.  The  urgent  neces 
sities  of  the  wounded  demanding  instant  attention,  at  the  sug 
gestion  of  Dr.  Jenkins,  Associate  Secretary,  I  went  out  in  the 
ambulance  train  on  Saturday  and  remained  until  Sunday  even 
ing.  The  report  of  my  visit  was  handed  in  to  Dr.  J.  shortly 
after  my  return. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  first  week  of  the  month  was 
occupied  in  examining  the  IT.  S.  Military  Hospital,  known  as 
the  Soldiers'  Home.  A  report  embodying  the  result  of  my 
examination  has  been  heretofore  submitted. 

Friday,  September  5. — Left  Washington  at  6  o'clock,  under 
the  impression  that  the  Confederate  army  had  crossed  the 
Potomac  the  preceding  evening  and  were  then  in  Frederick. 
Anxiety  as  to  the  fate  of  my  friends,  as  well  as  to  the  general 


6  THE  SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

treatment  my  native  place  would  receive  at  rebel  hands,  made 
the  trip  by  no  means  a  pleasant  one. 

Along  the  road,  at  different  stopping-places,  reports  reached 
us  as  to  the  numbers  of  the  Confederates  that  had  crossed  into 
Maryland.  The  passengers  began  to  entertain  fears  that  the 
train  would  not  be  able  to  reach  Frederick.  These  were,  how 
ever,  quieted  by  a  telegram  received  at  a  station  near  Mon 
rovia,  which  announced  the  road  open.  Arriving  at  12  o'clock, 
M.,  I  found  the  town  full  of  surmises  and  rumors.  Such  in 
formation  had  been  received  by  the  Post  Quarter  Master  and 
the  Surgeon  in  charge  of  Hospital,  that  they  were  busy  all  the 
afternoon  making  arrangements  to  move  off  their  valuable 
stores.  The  citizens  were  in  the  greatest  trepidation.  Inva 
sion  by  the  Southern  army  was  considered  equivalent  to  de 
struction.  Impressment  into  the  ranks  as  common  soldiers,  or 
immurement  in  a  Southern  prison — these  were  not  attractive 
prospects  for  quiet,  Union-loving  citizens  ! 

Towards  nightfall  it  became  pretty  certain  that  a  force  had 
crossed  somewhere  about  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy.  Tele 
grams  were  crowding  rapidly  on  the  army  officers  located  here, 
directing  that  what  stores  could  not  be  removed  should  be 
burned,  and  that  the  sick  should  as  far  as  possible  be  sent  on 
to  Pennsylvania.  Here  began  a  scene  of  terror  seldom  wit 
nessed  in  this  region.  Lieut.  Castle,  A.  Q.  M.,  burned  a  large 
quantity  of  his  stores  at  the  depot.  Assist.  Surg.  "Weir  fired 
his  store-house  on  the  Hospital  grounds  and  burned  the  most 
valuable  of  his  surplus  bedding  contained  in  Kemp  Hall,  in 
Church  street  near  Market.  Many  of  our  prominent  citizens, 
fearing  impressment,  left  their  families  and  started  for  Penn 
sylvania  in  carriages,  on  horseback,  and  on  foot.  All  the  con 
valescents  at  the  Hospital  that  could  bear  the  fatigue,  were 
started  also  for  Pennsylvania,  in  charge  of  Hospital  Steward 
Cox.  The  citizens  removed  their  trunks  containing  private 
papers  and  other  valuables  from  the  bank-vaults,  under  the 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEIN ER.  7 

firm  belief  that  an  attack  would  be  made  on  these  buildings 
for  the  sake  of  the  specie  contained  in  them.  . 

About  1£  o'clock,  A.  M.,  it  was  ascertained  that  Jackson's 
force — the  advance  guard  of  the  Southern  army — was  encamp 
ed  on  Moffat's  farm,  near  Buckeystown,  and  that  this  force 
would  enter  Frederick  after  daylight;  for  what  purpose  no 
one  knew.  Having  possession  of  this  amount  of  information, 
I  retired  about  two  o'clock,  being  willing  to  wait  the  sequel, 
whatever  it  might  be. 

Saturday,  September  C. — Found,  on  visiting  the  market  in 
the  morning,  that  a  very  large  number  of  our  citizens  had 
"skedaddled"  (i.  e.  retired  rapidly  in  good  order)  last  night. 
Every  mouth  was  full  of  rumors  as  to  the  numbers,  where 
abouts,  and  whatabouts  of  the  Confederate  force.  One  old 
gentleman,  whose  attachment  to  McClellan  has  become  pro 
verbial,  declared  that  it  was  an  impossibility  for  the  rebels  to 
cross  the  Potomac  ;  and  another,  who  looks  upon  Banks  as  the 
greatest  of  generals,  declared  that  Banks'  force  had  been  taken 
for  Confederates,  and  that  the  supposed  enemies  were  friends. 

At  length  uncertainty  was  changed  into  certainty.  About 
nine  o'clock  two  seedy-looking  individuals  rode  up  Market 
street  as  fast  as  their  jaded  animals  could  carry  them.  Their 
dress  was  a  dirty,  faded  gray,  their  arms  rusty  and  seemingly 
uncared  for,  their  general  appearance  raffish  or  vagabondieh. 
They  shouted  for  Jeff.  Davis  at  the  intersection  of  Patrick  and 
Market  street,  and  then  riding  to  the  intersection  of  Church 
and  Market,  repeated  the  same  strange  jubilant  shout.  Xo  one 
expressing  an  opinion  as  to  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of 
this  proceeding,  they  countermarched  and  trotted  down  the 
street.  Then  followed  some  fifty  or  a  hundred  horsemen,  hav 
ing  among  them  Bradley  T.  Johnson,  soi-disant  Colonel  C.  S.  A. 
These  were  received  with  feeble  shouts  from  some  secession- 
sympathizers.  They  said,  "the  time  of  your  deliverance  has 
come."  It  was  plain  that  the  deliverance  they  meant  was  from 


8  THE   SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

the  rule  of  law  and  order.  The  sidewalks  were  filled  with 
Union-loving  citizens,  who  felt  keenly  that  their  humiliation 
was  at  hand,  and  that  they  had  no  course  but  submission,  at 
least  for  a  time. 

As  this  force  of  cavalry  entered  the  town  from  the  south, 
Capt.  Yellot's  company  retreated  west  from  the  town,  and  dis 
appeared  no  one  knew  whither.  One  ruffian  cavalry  soldier 
rode  up  to  Sergt.  Crocker  (in  charge  of  hospital  stores  in  Kemp 
Hall)  and  accosted  him  with  "Sa-ay,  are  you  a  Yankee?" 
"  No,  I  am  a  Marylander."  "  What  are  you  doing  in  the 
Yankee  army  ?"  "  I  belong  to  the  United  States  army,"  said 
the  old  man,  proudly.  "  If  you  don't  come  along  with  me,  I'll 
cut  your  head  off."  Having  waved  his  sabre  over  the  unarmed 
old  man's  head,  he  demanded  his  keys,  and  rode  off  with  the 
sergeant  as  a  prisoner.  This  display  of  chivalry  did  not  infuse 
great  admiration  of  the  Southern  army  into  the  hearts  of  the 
bystanders. 

A  force  of  cavalry  entered  the  hospital  grounds  and  took 
possession  of  hospital  and  contents.  All  the  sick  were  care 
fully  paroled,  not  excepting  one  poor  fellow  then  in  a  mori 
bund  condition.  After  some  hours,  the  medical  officers  and 
hospital  stewards  were  allowed  to  go  about  town  on  passes. 

At  ten  o'clock  Jackson's  advance  force,  consisting  of  some 
five  thousand  men,  marched  up  Market  street  and  encamped 
north  of  the  town.  They  had  but  little  music ;  what  there  was 
gave  us  "My  Maryland"  and  Dixie  in  execrable  style.  Each 
regiment  had  a  square  red  flag,  with  a  cross,  made  of  diago 
nal  blue  stripes  extending  from  opposite  corners:  on  these 
blue  stripes  were  placed  thirteen  white  stars.  A  dirtier, 
filthier,  more  unsavory  set  of  human  beings  never  strolled 
through  a  town — marching  it  could  not  be  called  without  do 
ing  violence  to  the  word.  The  distinctions  of  rank  were  recog 
nized  on  the  coat  collars  of  officers;  but  all  were  alike  dirty 
and  repulsive.  Their  arms  were  rusty  and  in  an  unsoldierly 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  9 

condition.  Their  uniforms,  or  rather  multiforms,  corresponded 
only  in  a  slight  predominance  of  grey  over  butternut,  and  in 
the  prevalence  of  filth.  Faces  looked  as  if  they  had  not  been 
acquainted  with  water  for  weeks :  hair,  shaggy  and  unkempt, 
seemed  entirely  a  stranger  to  the  operations  of  brush  or  comb. 
A  motlier  group  was  never  herded  together.  But  these  were 
the  chivalry — the  deliverers  of  Maryland  from  Lincoln's  op 
pressive  yoke. 

During  the  afternoon  a  Provost  Marshal  was  appointed  for 
the  town,  and  he  occupied  the  same  office  which  had  been  the 
headquarters  of  the  U.  S.  Provost  Marshal.  Guards  were 
posted  along  our  streets,  and  pickets  on  the  roads  leading  from 
Frederick.  Our  stores  were  soon  thronged  with  crowds.  The 
shoe  stores  were  most  patronized,  as  many  of  their  men  were 
shoeless  and  stock! ngless.  The  only  money  most  of  them  had 
was  Confederate  scrip,  or  shinplasters  issued  by  banks,  corpo 
rations,  individuals,  etc. — all  of  equal  value.  To  use  the  ex 
pression  of  an  old  citizen  "  the  notes  depreciated  the  paper  on 
which  they  were  printed.''  The  crowded  condition  of  the 
stores  enabled  some  of  the  chivalry  to  take  what  they  wanted, 
(confiscate  is  the  technical  expression,)  without  going  through 
the  formality  of  even  handing  over  Confederate  rags  in  ex 
change.  But  guards  were  placed  at  the  stores  wherever  re 
quested,  and  only  a  few  men  allowed  to  enter  at  a  time.  Even 
this  arrangement  proved  inadequate,  and  the  stores  were  soon 
necessarily  closed.  The  most  intense  hatred  seems  to  have 
been  encouraged  and  fostered  in  the  men's  hearts  towards 
Union  people,  or  Yankees  as  they  style  them ;  and  this  word 
Yankee  is  employed  with  any  and  every  manner  of  emphasis 
possible  to  indicate  contempt  and  bitterness.  The  men  have 
been  made  to  believe  that  "  to  kill  a  Yankee"  is  to  do  a  duty 
imperatively  imposed  on  them.  The  following  incident  will 
illustrate  this:  A  gentleman  was  called  aside,  while  talking 
with  some  ladies,  by  an  officer  who  wished  information  as  to 


10  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

shoes.  He  said  he  was  in  want  of  shoes  for  his  men,  that  he 
had  United  States  money  if  the  dealers  were  so  foolish  as  to 
prefer  it,  or  he  would  procure  them  gold ;  but  if  they  wouldn't 
sell  he  was  satisfied  to  wait  until  they  reached  Baltimore, 
where  he  had  no  doubt  but  that  shoes  in  quantity  could  be 
procured.  No  reply  was  made.  Changing  the  subject,  he 
inquired  how  the  men  were  behaving.  The  answer  was  vei*y 
well;  there  was  no  complaint,  although  some  few  had  been 
seen  intoxicated  on  the  street.  "  "Who  gave  them  the  liquor," 
said  the  officer.  "Townsmen  who  sympathize  with  you  and 
desire  to  show  their  love  for  you."  "The  only  way  to  do 
that,"  said  the  officer,  "  is  to  kill  a  Yankee :  kill  a  Yankee, 
sir,  if  you  want  to  please  a  Southerner."  This  was  uttered 
with  all  imaginable  expression  of  vindictiveness  and  venom. 

O.ur  houses  were  besieged  by  hungry  soldiers  and  officers. 
They  ate  everything  offered  them  with  a  greediness  that  fully 
sustained  the  truth  of  their  statement,  that  their  entire  subsist 
ence  lately  had  been  green  corn,  uncooked,  and  eaten  directly  from 
the  stalk.  Union  families  freely  gave  such  food  as  they  had. 
"If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him," seemed  the  principle  acted 
on  by  our  good  people.  But  few  of  our  secession  citizens 
aided  them.  They  seemed  ashamed  of  their  Southern  breth 
ren.  The  Union  people  stood  out  for  their  principles,  and 
took  care  to  remind  them  that  they  were  getting  their  food 
from  those  they  had  come  to  destroy.  A  gentleman  relates 
the  following:  "In  the  evening,  after  having  had  one  of  their 
officers  to  tea — one  whom  I  had  known  in  former  clays — two 
officers  came  to  the  door  and  begged  that  something  might  be 
given  them  for  which  they  wished  to  pay.  On  giving  them 
the  last  biscuits  in  the  house,  one  of  them  offered  pay.  The 
reply  was,  'No  sir,  whenever  you  meet  a  Federal  soldier  want 
ing  food,  recollect  that  a  Union  man  in  Frederick  gave  you 
the  last  morsel  of  food  in  his  house  when  you  were  famishing.' 
The  officer's  face  flushed  up,  and  he  replied,  '  You  are  right, 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  11 

sir,  I  am  very,  very  much  obliged  to  you.'  The  coals  of  fire 
had  been  heaped  on  his  head." 

Outrages  were  committed  on  the  Xational  flag  whenever  one 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  soldiers.  These  simply  strengthened 
the  Union  feeling,  and  made  the  men  and  women  of  Frederick 
more  attached  than  ever  to  the  National  cause  for  which  their 
fathers  had  fought  and  died.  Stauucher,  stouter,  stronger  did 
Unionism  in  Frederick  grow  with  each  passing  hour.  We 
were  conquered,  not  enslaved, — humiliated  greatly  with  the 
thought  that  rebel  feet  were  pressing  on  our  soil,  but  not  dis 
posed  to  bow  the  knee  to  Baal. 

An  attack  on  the  Examiner  Printing  Office  being  antici 
pated,  a  small  guard  was  placed  at  the  door.  About  nine 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  a  rush  was  made  on  the  guard  by  some  of  the 
Southern  soldiers,  the  door  was  driven  in  and  the  contents  of 
the  office  thrown  into  the  street.  "W.  G.  Ross,  Esq.,  a  prom 
inent  lawyer  of  Frederick,  called  on  the  Provost  Marshal,  who 
soon  arrived  with  a  strong  force,  suppressed  the  riot,  and, 
having  obliged  the  rioters  to  return  every  thing  belonging  to 
the  office,  put  them  in  the  guard-house.  During  the  contin 
uance  of  this  disturbance,  the  oaths  and  imprecations  were 
terrific.  Every  one  in  the  neighborhood  expected  that  a  gen 
eral  attack  would  be  made  on  the  Union  houses.  Fortunately, 
a  quiet  night  ensued. 

Sunday,  September  7. — The  rebels  obliged  most  of  our 
shoe-stores  to  be  kept  open  during  the  day  so  that  their  men 
could  obtain  shoes.  The  reign  of  terror  continued,  although 
no  personal  violence  was  done  to  any  citizen.  Pickets  are 
posted  miles  out  of  town.  The  main  body  of  rebel  troops  is 
said  to  be  encamped  about  Urbana.  General  Robert  E.  Lee 
is  in  command,  and  there  are  three  divisions  or,  it  may  be, 
four,  commanded  by  Jackson,  Longstreet,  D.  II.  Hill,  and 
some  one  else.  Forage  is  obtained  by  taking  it  and  offering 
Confederate  notes  in  payment. 


12  THE  SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

At  the  Evangelical  Reformed  Church,  the  pastor,  Rev.  Dr. 
Daniel  Zacharias,  offered  up  prayers  for  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  notwithstanding  the  presence  of  a  number  of 
Confederate  officers.  In  the  evening  General  Jackson  was 
seen  asleep  in  the  same  church. 

The  Commissioner  for  the  Enrolment  of  the  State  Militia 
was  seized  to-day  and  made  to  hand  over  the  enrolment- 
books.  No  further  requirement  was  made  of  him,  except  that 
he  should  report  himself  daily  at  the  office  of  the  Provost- 
Marshal. 

During  the  afternoon  one  of  those  incredible  incidents  oc 
curred,  which  have  been  occasionally  reported  in  our  papers, 
but  have  always  been  disbelieved  by  those  who  have  faith  in 
the  humanity  of  rebels.  Several  young  ladies  were  standing 
in  front  of  the  house  of  one  of  our  prominent  citizens,  when  a 
rebel  officer  rode  up  and,  halting  his  horse,  said,  "  Ladies, 

% 

allow  me  to  make  you  a  present.  This  is  a  ring  made  from 
the  bone  of  a  dead  Yankee"  A  gentleman,  near  the  curb, 
seized  the  article  before  the  officer  had  finished  speaking  and 
handed  it  to  the  ladies,  who  quickly  answered,  "Keep  your 
present  for  those  who  appreciate  such  presents."  The  only 
reply  of  the  chivalry  was,  "  Ah  !  I  supposed  you  were  Southern 
ladies !  "  This  incident  is  instructive. 

Monday,  September  8. — General  Robert  E.  Lee  issues  a 
proclamation,  announcing  that  the  Southern  Army  enters 
Maryland  to  restore  her  to  freedom,  that  she  has  been  down 
trodden  for  a  long  time,  and  that  her  Sister  States  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy  have  sworn  to  set  her  free  from  the 
influence  of  Northern  bayonets, — free  to  decide  for  herself 
whether  she  will  go  with  the  South  or  no, — and  promising 
protection  to  all  of  whatever  opinion.  Colonel  B.  T.  Johnson, 
emulating  the  example  of  his  superior  officer,  calls  upon  the 
citizens  to  unite  in  forming  companies  and  regiments  to  join 
the  Confederate  States  Army.  Captain  E.  V.  White  an  noun- 


REPORT  OF   DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  13 

ces  that  he  is  empowered  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry. 
Mr.  Heard  (former  Editor  of  the  Frederick  Herald — a  seces 
sion  paper)  issues  a  card  calling  for  recruits  to  a  company  he 
is  forming.  Thus  we  are  flooded  with  proclamations.  These 
are  inserted  here  as  important  parts  of  the  diary  of  Rebel 
occupation  of  Frederick. 


LEE'S    PROCLAMATION. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  X.  VA., 

Near  Frederick  Town,  Stk  September,  1862. 

To  THE  PEOPLE  OP  MARYLAND  : 

It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  purpose  that  has 
brought  the  Army  under  my  command  within  the  limits  of 
your  State,  so  far  as  that  purpose  concerns  yourselves. 

The  People  of  the  Confederate  States  have  long  watched 
with  the  deepest  sympathy  the  wrongs  and  outrages  that  have 
been  inflicted  upon  the  citizens  of  a  Commonwealth,  allied  to 
the  States  of  the  South  by  the  strongest  social,  political  and 
commercial  ties. 

They  have  seen  with  profound  indignation  their  Sister  State 
deprived  of  every  right,  and  reduced  to  the  condition  of  a 
conquered  Province. 

Under  the  pretence  of  supporting  the  Constitution,  but  in 
violation  of  its  most  valuable  provisions,  your  citizens  have 
been  arrested  and  imprisoned  upon  no  charges  and  contrary 
to  all  forms  of  law ;  the  faithful  and  manly  protest  against 
this  outrage  made  by  the  venerable  and  illustrious  Marjlander, 
to  whom  in  better  days,  no  citizen  appealed  for  right  in  vain, 
was  treated  with  scorn  and  contempt;  the  government  of 
your  chief  City  has  been  usurped  by  armed  strangers ;  your 
Legislature  has  been  dissolved  by  the  unlawful  arrest  of  its 
members ;  freedom  of  the  press  and  of  speech  has  been  sup 
pressed  ;  words  have  been  declared  offences  by  an  arbitrary 


14  THE  SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

decree  of  the  Federal  Executive,  and  citizens  ordered  to 
be  tried  by  a  military  commission  for  what  they  may  dare  to 
speak. 

Believing  that  the  People  of  Maryland  possessed  a  spirit 
too  lofty  to  submit  to  such  a  government,  the  people  of  the 
South  have  long  wished  to  aid  you  in  throwing  off  this  foreign 
yoke,  to  enable  you  again  to  enjoy  the  inalienable  rights  of 
freemen,  and  restore  independence  and  sovereignty  to  your 
State. 

In  obedience  to  this  wish,  our  Army  has  come  among  yon, 
and  is  prepared  to  assist  you  with  the  power  of  its  arms  in 
regaining  the  rights  of  which  you  have  been  despoiled. 

This,  Citizens  of  Maryland,  is  our  mission,  so  far  as  you 
are  concerned. 

No  constraint  upon  your  free  will  is  intended,  no  intimida 
tion  will  be  allowed. 

Within  the  limits  of  this  Army,  at  least,  Marylanders  shall 
once  more  enjoy  their  ancient  freedom  of  thought  and  speech. 

"We  know  no  enemies  among  you,  and  will  protect  all  of 
every  opinion. 

It  is  for  you  to  decide  your  destiny  freely  and  without 
constraint. 

This  Army  will  respect  your  choice  whatever  it  may  be, 
and  while  the  Southern  people  will  rejoice  to  welcome  you 
to  your  natural  position  among  them,  they  will  only  welcome 
you  when  you  come  of  your  own  free-will. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General  Commanding. 


COLONEL   B.  T.  JOHNSON'S  PROCLAMATION. 

To  THE  PEOPLE  oy  MARYLAND: 

After  sixteen  months  of  oppression  more  galling  than  the 
Austrian  tyranny,  the  victorious  Army  of  the  South  brings 
freedom  to  your  doors.  Its  standard  now  waves  from  the 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  15 

Potomac  to  Mason  and  Dixon's  Line.  The  men  of  Maryland, 
who  during  the  last  long  months  have  been  crushed  under 
the  heel  of  this  terrible  despotism,  have  now  an  opportunity 
for  working  out  their  own  redemption,  for  which  they  have 
so  long  waited,  and  suffered,  and  hoped. 

The  Government  of  the  Confederate  States  is  pledged  by 
the  unanimous  vote  of  its  Congress,  by  the  distinct  declaration 
of  its  President,  the  soldier  and  statesman,  Davis,  never  to 
cease  this  war  until  Maryland  has  the  opportunity  to  decide 
for  herself  her  own  fate,  untrammeled  by  Federal  bayonets. 

The  people  of  the  South  with  unanimity  unparalleled  have 
given  their  hearts  to  our  native  State,  and  hundreds  of  thou 
sands  of  her  sons  have  sworn  with  arms  in  their  hands  that 
you  shall  be  free. 

You  must  now  do  your  part.  WQ  have  the  arms  here  for 
you.  I  am  authorized  immediately  to  muster  in  for  the  war, 
companies  and  regiments.  The  companies  of  one  hundred 
men  each.  Tiie  regiments  of  ten  companies.  Come,  all  who 
wish  to  strike  for  their  liberties  and  their  homes.  Let  each 
man  provide  himself  with  a  stout  pair  of  shoes,  a  good 
blanket  and  a  tin  cup..  Jackson's  men  have  no  baggage. 

Officers  are  in  Frederick  to  receive  recruits,  and  all  com 
panies  formed  will  be  armed  as  mustered  in.  RISE  AT  OXCE. 

Remember  the  cells  of  Fort  McHenry !  Remember  the 
dungeons  of  Fort  Lafayette  and  Fort  Warren ;  the  insults  to 
your  wives  and  daughters,  the  arrests,  the  midnight  searches 
of  your  houses ! 

Remember  these  vour  wrongs,  and  rise  at  once  in  arms  and 

./  o    " 

strike  for  Liberty  and  right. 

September  8,  1862.  B.  T.  JOHNSON,  Colonel  C.  S.  A. 


16  THE  SANITARY   COMMISSION. 


CAPTAIN   E.  V.  WHITE'S   PROCLAMATION. 

MARYLANDERS  TO  THE  RESCUE  ! 

I  am  a  Maryhmder!  I  have  been  in  the  service  eighteen 
months  opposing  the  tyranny  which  would  have  made  of  the 
South  a  subjugated  and  ruined  country.  I  came  to  Mary 
land  with  the  Southern  Army  to  do  what  I  can  to  carry  her 
where  she  belongs — to  the  Southern  Confederacy.  I  want 
Marylauders  to  join  me.  I  am  authorized  to  raise  a  regiment 
of  Maryland  Cavalry.  I  have  no  recruiting  office.  I  can  be 
found  at  General  Lawton's  headquarters,  where  I  will  be 
happy  to  receive  recruits.  Come  at  once,  or  make  up  your 
minds  to  be  slaves  to  the  Northern  despotism  forever. 

September  8,  1862.  E.  V.  WHITE,  Captain, 

Commanding  Gen.  Lawless  Body -Guard. 


CAVALRY  NOTICE. 

I  have  been  detailed  to  recruit  for  Captain  White's  Cavalry 
Regiment.  All  persons  desiring  to  join  this  far-famed  corps 
will  apply  to  me  at  the  Provost  Marshal's. 

September  10,  1862.  J.  M.  KILGOUR. 


JOHN  W.  BEARD'S  PROCLAMATION. 
MEN  OF  OLD  FREDERIC  AROUSE — DEFEND  YOUR  HOMES.  — 
Under  the  authority  of  the  Confederate  Government,  I  am 
now  engaged  in  raising  a  company  of  infantry.  The  great 
Army  of  the  South,  unconquered  and  unconquerable,  is  now 
in  your  midst,  and  has  determined  that  Maryland  shall  be 
free.  AVhatsay  you,  Marylandcrs?  Are  you  willing  to  fight 
for  the  liberties  for  which  you  have  so  long  been  clamorous, 
or  are  you  so  abject  as  to  accept  them  as  a  boon  at  the  hands 
of  others  ?  [No !  no  !  sons  of  Maryland — inheritors  of  her 


REPORT   OF   DR.  LEWIS   H.  STEINER.  17 

Revolutionary  glory — by  your  own  right  arm  achieve  the  in 
dependence  of  your  own  State.  Falter  not,  hesitate  not,  now 
that  the  opportunity  is  offered  you — but  rally  at  once  and  vin 
dicate  your  history. 

|3gT"  Recruiting-Office  next  door  to  the  Provost  Marshal's, 
where  there  will  always  be  found  an  officer  in  attendance. 

September^,  1802.  JOHN  W.  HEARD. 

The  supplies  in  our  stores  having  nearly  given  out,  some  of 
the  Union  merchants  resolutely  closed  their  stores  to  the 
soldiers,  and  sending  for  their  customers  asked  them  to  take 
what  they  required  at  the  usual  rates.  The  wealthiest  grocer 
in  the  town  raised  the  price  of  coffee  to  seventy -five  cents,  and 
brown  sugar  to  forty  cents  per  pound,  to  be  paid  in  gold  or  in 
our  own  currency.  This  outrageous  attempt  to  take  advantage 
of  the  troublous  condition  of  the  community  has  excited  con 
siderable  indignation  in  a  quiet  way  all  around. 

We  are  still  importuned  by  the  rebels  for  food.  It  is  fur 
nished  whenever  asked,  but  the  Union  citizens  take  care  to 
inform  them  that  they  are  fed  by  their  opponents.  How  the 
rebels  manage  to  get  along  no  one  can  tell.  They  are  badly 
clad.  Many  of  them  without  shoes.  Uncleanliness  and  ver 
min  are  universal.  The  odor  of  clothes  worn  for  months, 
saturated  with  perspiration  and  dirt,  is  intense  and  all-pervad 
ing.  They  look  stout  and  sturdy,  able  to  endure  fatigue,  and 
anxious  to  fight  in  the  cause  they  have  espoused,  willingly  or 
unwillingly.  The  movement  they  have  now  made  is  believed 
by  them  to  be  a  desperate  one,  and  they  must  "see  it 
through."  They  all  believe  in  themselves  as  well  as  in  their 
generals,  and  are  terribly  in  earnest.  They  assert  that  they 
have  never  been  whipped,  but  have  driven  the  Yankees  before 
them  whenever  they  could  find  them.  They  have  killed  so 
many  Yankees  and  have  gloried  therein  to  such  an  extent  that 
one  would  almost  think  them  veritable  Thugs.  Bragging  is 
2 


18  THE    SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

a  favorite  game  with  them,  and  they  do  it  well.  Their  army 
is  plainly  intended  for  an  advance  into  Pennsylvania,  and  they 
speak  freely  of  their  intention  to  treat  Pennsylvania  very  dif 
ferently  from  Maryland.  I  fear  there  will  be  great  destruction 
of  property  as  they  move  forwards.  Many  a  citizen  will  lose 
his  all  of  this  world's  goods  in  this  raid,  for  devastation  is 
meant  to  be  the  order  or  disorder  of  their  march  when  they 
cross  the  border. 

Tuesday,  September  9. — Recruiting  goes  on  slowly  in  the 
town.  We  are  told  that  three  companies  are  to  be  raised  here. 
It  may  be.  so,  but  one  "  can't  see  it."  If  ever  suicide  were 
contemplated  by  any  one  it  must  be  by  those  civilians  who 
propose  to  attach  themselves  to  Jackson's  corps.  His  men 
have  become  inured  to  hardships  by  long  training,  and  are 
now  on  one  of  their  most  difficult  undertakings.  New  recruits, 
taken  from  the  comforts  of  social  life,  altogether  unused  to 
hardships,  will  readily  sink  under  the  fatigues  of  camp  and 
Held  life. 

A  clergyman  tells  me  that  he  saw  an  aged  crone  come  out 
of  her  house  as  certain  rebels  passed  by  trailing  the  American 
flag  in  the  dust.  She  shook  her  long,  skinny  hands  at  the 
traitors  and  screamed  at  the  top  of  her  voice,  "  My  curses  be 
upon  you  and  your  officers  for  degrading  your  country's  flag." 
.H«r  expression  and  gesture  as  described  to  me  were  worthy 
of  Meg  Merilies. 

The  Confederates  have  been  seizing  horses  from  our  farmers, 
tendering  Confederate  scrip  in  payments.  They  allege  mili 
tary  .necessity  in  justification  of  this  seizure.  Military  neces 
sity  is  a  convenient  cloak  for  any  outrage  whatever. 

As  an  offset  to  these  operations  of  the  rebels  may  be  men 
tioned  tike  sale  of  a  horse  to  a  Confederate  by  a  smart  Fred 
erick  boy.  lie  had  purchased  a  condemned  Government 
horse  for  thirteen  dollars,  with  the  hope  that  by  careful  feed- 
.ing  he  might  so  improve  the  animal's  condition  that  he 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS   H.  STEINER.  19 

would  command  a  profit.  Food  and  care,  however,  proved 
vain.  The  horse  refused  to  eat  for  two  days,  and  was  mani 
festly  "  sinking."  A  rebel  asked  the  youth  if  he  had  a  horse 
to  sell.  "  Well,  yes  ;  I  have  a  very  fine  horse,  worth  two 
hundred  dollars  to  any  man  who  can  prize  a  good  horse." 

The  rebel  proposed  entering  the  stable  to  examine  the 
horse.  "  Xo  sir !  he  is  a  spirited  animal  and  might  do  a 
stranger  some  injury.  Let  me  bring  him  out  for  you."  By 
some  special  stimulus  the  horse  was  induced  to  come  out, 
and  the  proprietor  stated  that  on  reflection  he  would  let  his 
valuable  animal  go  for  eighty  dollars  in  money  —  not  Con 
federate  scrip.  The  rebel  remarked  that  the  horse  held  one 
foot  off  the  ground,  resting  the  weight  of  his  body  on  three 
legs.  He  inquired  as  to  the  cause  of  this  phenomenon. 
"  Why,  Lord  bless  you !  don't  you  understand  that  ?  He  is 
a  natural  racker  j  all  natural  rackers  stand  on  three  legs 
that  way — always."  The  enunciation  of  this  physiological 
law  settled  the  question.  The  money  was  paid  over.  The 
rebel  mounted  his  newly-purchased  steed  and  rode  away, 
somewhat  to  the  seller's  astonishment.  He  remarked  to  the 
by-standers,  "  I  pledge  you  my  word,  gentlemen,  he  will 
last  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour  at  least.  Any  other 
gentleman  wanting  a  natural  racker  can  be  accommodated  at 
the  shortest  notice,  if  he  will  only  call  on  me." 

Wednesday,  September  10. — At  four  o'clock  this  morning 
the  rebel  army  began  to  move  from  our  town,  Jackson's 
force  taking  the  advance.  The  movement  continued  until 
eight  o'clock  r.  M.,  occupying  sixteen  hours.  The  most  liberal 
calculations  could  not  give  them  more  than  6i,000  men. 
Over  3,000  negroes  must  be  included  in  this  number.  These 
were  clad  in  all  kinds  of  uniforms,  not  only  in  cast-off  or 
captured  United  States  uniforms,  but  in  coats  with  Southern 
buttons,  State  buttons,  etc.  These  were  shabby,  but  not 
shabbier  or  seedier  than  those  worn  bv  white  men  in  the 


20  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

rebel  ranks.  Most  of  the  negroes  had  arms,  rifles,  muskets, 
sabres,  bowie-knives,  dirks,  etc.  They  were  supplied,  in 
many  instances,  with  knapsacks,  haversacks,  canteens,  etc., 
and  were  manifestly  an  integral  portion  of  the  Southern  Con 
federacy  Army.  They  were  seen  riding  on  horses  and  mules, 
driving  wagons,  riding  on  caissons,  in  ambulances,  with  the 
staff  of  Generals,  and  promiscuously  mixed  up  with  all  the 
rebel  horde.  The  fact  was  patent,  and  rather  interesting 
when  considered  in  connection  with  the  horror  rebels  express 
at  the  suggestion  of  black  soldiers  being  employed  for  the 
National  defence. 

Some  of  the  rebel  regiments  have  been  reduced  to  150 
men ;  none  number  over  500.  The  men  are  stout  and  rag 
ged,  anxious  to  "  kill  a  Yankee,"  and  firm  in  their  belief 
that  Confederate  notes  are  as  good  as  gold.  Their  marching 
is  generally  very  loose.  They  marched  by  the  flank  through 
the  streets  of  Frederick.  Some  few  houses  had  rebel  flags, 
to  which  one  enthusiastic  admirer  of  secession  had  added  a 
white  cross  on  a  red  ground.  Some  handkerchiefs  waved, 
but  all  felt  there  was  no  genuine  enthusiasm.  The  movement 
to  Frederick  had  proved  a  failure.  Their  friends  were  anxious 
to  get  rid  of  them  and  of  the  penetrating  ammoniacal  smell 
they  brought  with  them.  Union  citizens  had  become  strong 
er  in  their  faith.  Hebel  officers  were  unanimous  in  declaring 
that  "  Frederick  was  a  d — d  Union  hole."  The  ill-suppressed 
expressions  of  delight  on  the  countenances  of  the  citizens 
could  not  be  interpreted  into  indications  of  sympathy  with ' 
Secession.  They  manifested  only  profound  delight  at  the  pros 
pect  of  its  speedy  departure. 

This  force  had  about  150  guns  with  the  letters  U.  S.  This 
rebel  army  seemed  to  have  been  largely  supplied  with  trans 
portation  by  some  United  States  Quartermaster.  Uncle 
Sam's  initials  were  on  many  of  its  wagons,  ambulances,  and 
horses.  One  neat  spring-wagon  was  lettered  "General  Cawy^x 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  21 

Headquarters"  Each  regiment  was  supplied  with  but  one 
or  two  wagons.  The  men  were  mostly  without  knapsacks ; 
some  few  carried  blankets,  and  a  tooth-brush  was  occasionally 
seen  pendant  from  the  button-hole  of  a  private  soldier,  whose 
reminiscences  of  home-life  were  not  entirely  eradicated. 

Their  apologies  for  regimental  bands  were  vile  and  excru 
ciating.  The  only  real  music  in  their  column  to-day  was 
from  a  bugle  blown  by  a  negro.  Drummers  and  fifers  of 
the  same  color  abounded  in  their  ranks.  The  men  seemed 
generally  disinclined  to  insult  our  citizens.  But  there  were 
conspicuous  exceptions.  A  drunken,  bloated  blackguard  on 
horseback,  for  instance,  with  the  badge  of  a  Major-General 
on  his  collar,  understood  to  be  one  Howell  Cobl,  formerly 
Secretary  of  the  United  States  Treasury,  on  passing  the 
house  of  a  prominent  sympathizer  with  the  rebellion,  re 
moved  his  hat  in  answer  to  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs, 
and  reining  his  horse  up,  called  on  "  his  boys  "  to  give  three 
cheers.  "  Three  more,  my  boys  !"  and  "  three  more !"  Then, 
looking  at  the  silent  crowd  of  Union  men  on  the  pavement, 
he  shook  his  fist  at  them,  saying,  "  Oh  you  d — d  long-faced 
Yankees  !  Ladies,  take  down  their  names  and  I  will  attend 
to  them  personally  when  I  return."  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
this  was  addressed  to  a  crowd  of  unarmed  citizens,  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  body  of  armed  soldiery  flushed  with  suc 
cess,  the  prudence — to  say  nothing  of  the  bravery — of  these 
remarks,  may  be  judged  of  by  any  man  of  common  sense. 

Some  of  the  citizens  have  been  encouraging  the  Confederate 
soldiers  by  assuring  them  of  the  sympathy  of  Maryland,  and 
urging  them  to  push  on  northward  with  their  offensive  opera 
tions.  One  gray-haired  man,  who  had  escaped  from  the 
military  authorities  twelve  months  since  by  taking  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  was  overheard  saying  to  a  rebel  Colonel,  "  Make 
them  feel  the  war  when  you  reach  Philadelphia." 

Thursday,  September  11. — General  Hill's  division,  number- 


22  THE  SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

ing  about  eight  thousand  men,  marched  through  the  streets, 
on  their  route  westward,  this  morning.  This  division  showed 
more  of  military  discipline  than  either  of  its  predecessors  ;  the 
men  marched  in  better  order,  had  better  music  and  were 
fairly  clothed  and  equipped.  This  division  moves  more  rapidly 
than  either  of  the  others.  This  was  held  to  indicate  the  ap 
proach  of  the  National  army. 

Three  of  the  buildings  on  the  hospital  grounds  were  taken 
possession  of  by  the  Confederates  for  the  accommodation  of 
their  sick.  These  soon  threw  themselves  on  the  beds,  with 
their  filthy  clothing  and  boots.  In  a  few  hours  a  marked  con 
trast  could  be  noticed  between  the  neatness  of  the  wards 
containing  the  Union  soldiers  and  those  occupied  by  the 
rebels.  The  secessionists  collected  the  ladies  of  their  order  of 
thinking,  and,  for  the  first  time  since  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  the  fair  forms  of  female  secessionists  were  seen 
within  the  walls  of  the  Frederick  hospital,  ministering  to  the 
wants  of  suffering  humanity.  I  must  confess  that  they  seemed 
to  work  with  a  will.  The  Union  ladies,  whenever  they  found 
their  supplies  more  than  sufficient  for  our  own  sick,  freely  gave 
them  to  sick  rebels.  Charity  knows  neither  party  nor  religious 
creed  as  a  limit  to  its  blessed  work. 

Rumors  of  a  strong  Federal  force  moving  towards  Frederick 
prevailed  during  the  evening.  Old  and  young  prayed  with 
fervor  that  these  rumors  might  be  based  on  truth.  The  Union 
citizens  were  not  harboring  vindictive  feelings  towards  their 
secession  neighbors,  but  they  longed  for  the  old  flag.  Bright 
eyes  were  growing  dim  and  rosy  cheeks  pale  from  anxious 
watching,  day  and  night,  for  the  coming  of  our  National  army. 
Hope  deferred  had  made  the  heart  sick,  but  still  it  was  clung 
to  with  wondrous  tenacity.  Dreams  of  "  blue-coats  "  were  the 
attendants  of  such  sleep  as  met  their  eyelids — dreams  of  a 
happy  restoration  to  the  rights  of  the  old  Union.  Would  they 
never  be  realized  ! 


REPORT  OF   DR.  LEWIS   II.  STEINER.  23 

Friday,  September  12. — Stewart's  cavalry  passed  through 
town  to-day,  on  their  way  towards  Hagerstown.  It  is  said  to 
be  composed  of  Ashby's  Cavalry  and  the  Hampton  Legion. 
The  men  are  more  neat  and  cleanly  than  the  infantry  that 
preceded  them,  and  their  horses,  of  good  stock,  are  well- 
groomed  and  fed.  Bragging  is  the  order  of  the  day  with  the 
cavalry.  They  boast  that  they  never  met  more  than  one  Fed 
eral  regiment  that  dared  to  cross  sabres  with  them,  and  that 
was  the  First  Michigan  Cavalry.  Stewart  has  been  visiting 
some  of  our  sympathizers  with  the  rebellion.  Meeting  Hospi 
tal  Steward  Fitzgerald,  he  asked  him  to  state  to  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  Federal  troops  that  might  come  to 
Frederick,  that  he  would  inflict  severe  punishment  on  Union 
men,  wherever  he  could  find  them,  if  any  punishment  was 
meted  out  to  the  Southern  sympathizers  in  Frederick  by  such 
officer.  The  steward  answered  that  he,  as  a  warrant-officer  of 
the  United  States  Army,  could  carry  no  such  message,  and 
suggested  that  General  Stewart  should  remain  to  deliver  it 
himself.  The  General  did  not  act  on  this  suggestion. 

The  joyous  news  at  last  reached  town  that  the  Federal 
troops  were  near  at  hand.  Union  people  looked  up  their 
National  flags.  Two  companies  of  Stewart's  men,  still  in  town, 
were  stationed  at  the  intersection  of  Market  and  Patrick 
streets.  Cannonading  was  heard  in  the  distance.  Hearts  were 
beating  with  joyous  expectation.  Our  Union  citizens  were 
assembling  at  different  points,  discussing  the  probable  results 
of  the  skirmish  then  taking  place.  It  was  evident  that  noth 
ing  more  than  a  skirmish  would  take  place,  for  the  enemy, 
notwithstanding  his  boast  that  our  troops  would  not  meet  him 
in  a  fair  light,  was  retreating  westward  towards  the  mountains. 
The  advance  cavalry  of  our  National  Army  charged  into  our 
streets,  driving  the  rebels  before  them.  They  were  met  by  a 
counter-charge  of  Stewart's  men,  made  in  grand  style.  Saddles 
Avere  emptied  on  both  sides.  Stewart's  men  fell  back,  carrving 


24  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

with  them  seven  of  our  men  as  prisoners,  and  leaving  many 
of  their  own  men  wounded  on  the  ground.  The  accidental 
discharge  of  a  cannon  caused  the  death  of  seven  horses  and 
the  wounding  of  a  few  men.  Martial  music  is  heard  in  the 
distance  ;  a  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers  makes  its  appearance 
and  is  hailed  with  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations  of  joy. 
Handkerchiefs  are  waved,  flags  are  thrown  from  Union 
houses,  and  a  new  life  appears  infused  into  the  people.  Burn- 
Bide  enters  amid  vociferous  plaudits  from  every  one,  and  the 
citizens,  with  enthusiastic  eagerness,  devote  themselves  to 
feeding  the  troops  and  welcoming  them  to  their  houses,  as 
their  true  deliverers  from  a  bondage  more  debasing  than  that 
of  the  African  slave. 

A  little  incident  connected  with  the  charge  referred  to  is 
worthy  of  note.  The  wife  of  one  of  our  prominent  Union  men 
threw  out  the  National  flag  from  her  window  just  as  Stewart's 
men  dashed  by  the  house.  It  seemed  peculiarly  fitting  that  a 
member  of  the  Washington  family  should  first  unfurl  her 
country's  banner  as  our  victorious  troops  entered  a  place 
which  had  been  infested  with  the  armed  supporters  of  treason. 
Saturday,  September  13. — The  town  was  effervescent  with 
joy  at  the  arrival  of  the  Union  troops, — no  business  was  done. 
Every  one  felt  jubilant,  and  congratulated  himself  and  neigh 
bor  that  the  United  States  troops  were  once  more  in  posses 
sion.  General  McClellan  with  his  staff  rode  through,  about 
nine  o'clock,  and  was  received  on  all  sides  with  the  most  un 
limited  expressions  of  delight.  Old  and  young  shouted  with 
joy ;  matrons  held  their  babes  towards  him  as  their  deliverer 
from  the  rule  of  a  foreign  army,  and  fair  young  ladies  rushed 
to  meet  him  on  the  streets,  some  even  throwing  their  arms 
around  his  horse's  neck.  It  was  a  scene  difficult  to  realize  in 
this  matter-of-fact  age,  but  deep-seated  feelings  of  gratitude 
found  expression  in  every  possible  form.  The  reality  of  the 
joy  constituted  the  poetry  of  the  reception.  Years  of  obloquy 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS   II.  STEINER.  25 

and  reproach  might  have  been  considered  compensated  for 
by  such  a  reception.  The  army,  as  well  as  its  loved  general, 
was  welcomed  with  enthusiasm.  To  Frederick  belongs  the 
high  honor  of  having  given  the  first  decided,  enthusiastic, 
whole-souled  reception  which  the  Army  had  met  since  its 
officers  and  men  had  left  their  families  and  homes  to  fight  the 
battles  of  their  country.  It  is  true  that  companies  and  regi 
ments  on  their  way  to  join  the  Army  had  been  received  with 
shouts  of  approval  in  the  towns  through  which  they  passed, 
but  the  Army,  as  such,  had  always  trudged  along  its  accus 
tomed  line  of  duty  without  one  word  from  the  people  in  the 
way  of  satisfaction  or  commendation.  But  in  Frederick  it  was 
received  as  a  band  of  brothers,  fighting  for  the  welfare  of  the 
whole  country  and,  whether  successful  or  unsuccessful,  en 
titled  to  the  warmest  demonstrations  of  good  feeling  possible. 

Amid  all  this,  there  was  exhibited  no  vindictive  feeling 
towards  the  secession  citizens  of  the  town.  No  arrests  were 
made  of  so-called  Southern  sympathizers.  Many  of  these 
were  disgusted  with  their  friends  of  the  Southern  Army,  and 
not  at  all  displeased  that  they  had  left  Frederick  and  had 
been  followed  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  United  States  Gov 
ernment. 

In  the  afternoon  I  found  McClellan  with  a  large  portion  of 
his  army  encamped  on  my  farm,  west  of  Frederick.  The 
nature  of  the  camp  and  its  arrangements  prevented  one  form 
ing  any  other  conclusion  than  that  it  was  a  bivouac  and  only 
intended  for  temporary  occupation.  Some  onward  movement 
of  the  Army  was  evidently  already  in  contemplation,  but 
what  it  might  be  was  kept  concealed  in  the  breast  of  the 
General  commanding. 

REMARKS  ON  THE  CONDITION  OF  THE  REBELS. — One  thing 
may  be  said  with  perfect  truth  of  the  Rebel  army,  and  that 
is,  but  few  stragglers  are  left  behind  as  they  march  through 


26  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

the  country.  Depredations  on  private  property  in  this  neigh 
borhood  have  been  comparatively  rare.  This  is  understood 
to  be  the  result  of  some  very  stringent  rules  adopted  by  Gen 
eral  Lee  with  special  reference  to  the  invasion  of  Maryland. 
Some  of  our  men  have  been  less  scrupulous  in  their  treatment 
of  private  property.  Teamsters,  who  seem  to  fear  neither 
man  nor  God,  are  found  committing  depredations  on  all 
sides.  This  evil  might  be  suppressed  if  teamsters  were  en 
listed  men  and  subjected  to  military  punishments.  I  do  not 
know  what  the  rule  is  in  foreign  service,  but  it  is  manifest 
that  the  management  of  this  class  of  men  would  be  compar 
atively  easy,  were  they  placed  under  the  same  laws  that 
govern  the  rest  of  our  Army. 

The  experience  of  one  week  with  the  Rebel  Army  satisfies 
me  that  the  men  are  in  a  high  state  of  discipline  and  have 
learned  implicit  obedience.  When  separated  from  their  offi 
cers  they  do  not  show  the  same  self-reliance  that  our  men 
possess, — do  not  seem  able  to  discuss  with  intelligent  ease  the 
political  subjects  which  claim  every  man's  attention  at  this 
time.  All  of  them  show  a  lack  of  energy  and  spirit,  a  want 
of  thrift  and  cleanliness,  which  are  altogether  paradoxical  to 
our  men.  A  constant  fear  of  their  officers  is  associated  with 
their  prompt  obedience  of  orders.  Many,  while  they  ex 
pressed  their  contempt  for  "  the  Yankees,"  would  lament  the 
war  and  express  a  desire  to  throw  down  their  arms  and  re 
turn  to  their  homes,  if  they  could  only  do  this  without  mo 
lestation.  Jackson's  name  was  always  mentioned  with  a 
species  of  veneration,  and  his  orders  were  obeyed  with  a 
slavish  obedience  unsurpassed  by  that  of  Russian  serfs. 

The  men  generally  looked  sturdy  when  in  ranks,  yet  a 
cachectic  expression  of  countenance  prevailed,  which  could 
not  be  accounted  for  entirely  by  the  unwashed  faces  that 
were,  from  necessity  or  choice,  the  rule.  Those  who  have 
fallen  into  our  hands  show  worn-out  constitutions,  disordered 


REPORT   OF   DR.  LEWIS    IT.  STEINER.  27 

digestions  and  a  total  lack  of  vital  stamina.  They  do  not 
bear  pain  with  any  fortitude,  and  their  constitutions  seem  to 
have  very  little  power  of  resistance  to  disease.  The  rate  of 
mortality  in  the  rebel  sick  and  wounded  is  double  or  treble 
that  found  in  the  Hospitals  containing  our  men. 

In  point  of  professional  ability,  their  medical  officers  vary 
very  much.  Some  few  are  men  of  superior  talent,  but  many 
are  without  either  professional  knowledge  or  social  culture. 
Constant  association  with  hardship  and  suffering  may  have 
made  them  callous  to  the  appeals  of  their  patients,  but  this 
excuse  will  hardly  justify  the  neglect  which  some  of  them 
show  towards  the  sick.  As  to  medical  supplies  they  rely 
largely  upon  captures,  upon  confiscating  whatever  they  meet 
with  on  their  marches,  and  upon  paying  for  medicines  with 
the  worthless  rags  they  call  Confederate  notes.  With  such 
uncertain  sources  for  their  supplies,  the  imperfections  of  their 
medical  and  surgical  treatment  cannot  be  severely  censured. 

Sunday,  September  14th. — Major-General  Banks'  corps  d'ar- 
mee,  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  A.  S.  Williams  passed 
through  town  this  morning  on  its  way  to  the  front.  The  men 
were  in  the  best  possible  spirits,  all  eager  for  the  fray.  They 
are  fighting  now  for  and  among  people  who  appreciate  their 
labors,  and  who  welcome  them  as  brothers.  Brigadier-General 
Gordon  said  that  "  the  reception  of  the  troops  by  the  citizens 
of  this  place  was  equal  to  a  victory  in  its  effects  upon  the  men 
of  his  command."  The  veteran  troops  were  all  in  vigorous 
health,  and  the  new  levies  made  up  of  strong,  athletic  men, 
whose  intelligent  faces  beamed  with  strong  desire  to  press 
rapidly  upon  the  retreating  foe.  We  had  never  greater  reason 
to  be  proud  of  our  army. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  day,  the  memorable  engagement 
at  the  South  Mountain  Pass  took  place,  in  which  our  new 
levies  vied  with  the  veterans  in  pressing  the  Confederates  up 
the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  then  over  into  the  valley  be- 


28  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

yond.  Our  military  commanders  will  bear  testimony,  in 
proper  form,  to  the  heroic  courage  shown  by  our  army  in  this 
well- fought  action.  The  rebels  had  tried  to  make  a  stand  at 
several  points  on  the  road  prior  to  this  engagement,  but  were 
gallantly  driven  forwards  by  our  troops. 

On  Wednesday  the  great  battle  of  Antietam.  was  fought, 
with  such  a  display  of  strategy  and  power  on  the  part  of  our 
General,  and  of  heroism  and  daring  from  our  men,  that  the 
enemy  was  glad  to  resign  all  hopes  of  entering  Pennsylvania, 
and  to  withdraw  his  forces  across  the  Potomac.  A  great  vic 
tory  had  been  gained  ;  the  enemy  had  been  driven  from  loyal 
soil,  and  McClellan  had  shown  himself  worthy  of  the  love, 
(amounting  almost  to  adoration,)  which  his  troops  expressed 
on  all  sides. 

The  battles  fought  at  South  Mountain  and  Antietam  opened 
up  an  extensive  field  of  operations  for  the  Sanitary  Commis 
sion.  This  had  been  anticipated  at  the  Central  Office,  and 
Inspectors  Andrew,  Chamberlain,  and  Smith  had  accompa 
nied  the  army  on  its  march  from  Washington,  with  wagons 
furnished  with  such  articles  as  were  most  essential  in  the  emer 
gency.  After  a  few  days  of  duty  in  the  front,  Inspector  Smith 
returned  to  Washington,  and  Inspector  Andrew  was  assigned 
to  duty  in  the  hospitals  at  Frederick.  His  interesting  report, 
showing  how  efficient  was  the  aid  sent  forward  by  the  Com 
mission,  and  how  admirably  the  duty  assigned  him  was  per 
formed,  is  inserted  as  a  part  of  this  report. 


DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER,  Sanitary  Inspector, 

Sup't  Operations  of  U.  8.  Sanitary  Commission  in  N.  Md. 

8*1 — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  hand  you  herewith 
a  brief  account  of  so  much  of  my  labor  in  the  service  of  the 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS   H.  STEINER.  29 

Sanitary  Commission  as  is  connected  with  the  inarch  and  suc 
ceeding  battles  of  the  army  during  its  September  campaign  in 
Maryland. 

On  Sunday,  September  7th,  then  being  in  Washington,  I 
was  requested  to  start  immediately,  in  company  with  Dr.  W. 
M.  Chamberlain,  with  a  wagon  load  of  such  supplies  as  would 
be  most  necessary  on  the  march,  and  in  the  event  of  an  en 
gagement.  Our  instructions  were  to  accompany  the  army, 
and  to  be  ready  to  render  such  aid  as  might  be  necessary, — 
not  only  to  the  really  sick  and  wounded,  but  to  the  feeble  and 
to  those  who  were  in  danger  of  falling  out  of  the  ranks  from 
exhaustion  and  the  want  of  timely  support.  Our  powers  were 
mainly  discretionary,  and  our  wagon  was  to  be  regarded 
merely  as  the  "  avant  courier"  of  stores  to  follow, — the  supply 
only  to  be  limited  by  the  demand.  On  Monday  morning  we 
came  up  with  the  advance  corps  two  miles  north  of  Rockville, 
and  started  on  Tuesday  with  the  army  in  motion.  At  the 
close  of  the  day's  march  I  rode  along  such  portion  of  the  line 
as  was  accessible,  ascertained  the  wants  of  the  army  and  sup 
plied  such  as  were  pressing.  It  was  found,  on  this  occasion 
and  afterwards,  that  the  army  had  borne  its  march  so  well 
that  there  was  little  necessity  for  drawing  upon  the  stores 
of  the  Commission,  which  became  more  valuable  as  we  in 
creased  the  distance  from  our  base  of  supplies.  On  many  oc 
casions,  however,  small  supplies  of  restoratives  were  of  con 
siderable  service.  At  Damascus,  on  the  12th,  we  were  joined 
by  Dr.  Smith  with  another  wagon  load  of  supplies,  and  Dr. 
Chamberlain  was  relieved.  A  battle  being  considered  near 
at  hand,  Dr.  Chamberlain  concluded  to  remain  with  the  expe 
dition,  and  accompanied  us  as  far  as  Frederick,  which  city  we 
reached  on  the  evening  of  the  13th.  Finding  that  the  enemy 
had  evacuated  Frederick  without  a  serious  contest,  Dr.  C., 
having  important  private  business  in  New  York,  left  the  train, 
now  increased  by  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Mitchell  with  two  army 


30  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

wagons.  Sunday  morning  the  memorable  14th  was  ushered 
in  by  heavy  firing  in  the  direction  of  the  retreat  of  the  enemy. 
Learning  from  past  experience  the  difficulty  of  passing  wagons 
along  roads  crowded  with  army  trains,  I  procured  the  privi 
lege  of  attaching  the  wagon  driven  by  myself  (the  driver  fur 
nished  me  was  worse  than  worthless)  to  an  ambulance  train, 
and  leaving  the  balance  of  the  train  to  be  brought  through  by 
Mr.  Mitchell,  I  started,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Smith,  and  with  a 
selected  load  of  supplies  for  the  battle-field.  The  passes  across 
the  Catoctin  range  of  mountains  were  so  crowded  with  troops, 
artillery,  ammunition,  supply,  and  ambulance  trains,  that 
darkness  came  on  before  we  commenced  the  ascent  of  the 
mountain,  four  miles  from  Frederick,  by  the  "!N"ew  Cut  Road." 
The  firing  had  been  unceasing  during  the  day,  and  doubting 
not  that  our  supplies  were  needed,  the  endeavor  to  reach  the 
front  was  persevered  in,  and  accordingly,  we  reached  Middle- 
ton  at  half-past  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  15th.  "We 
found  the  hospitals  already  established  in  the  churches  and 
schoolhouses  crowded  with  the  wounded  of  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain,  and  ambulance  trains  were  still  coming  in.  The 
people  of  the  village  had  been  most  kind,  and  had  materially 
aided  in  caring  for  our  brave  soldiers;  furnishing  food,  and 
tearing  up  sheets,  table  cloths,  and  body  clothes  for  bandages 
and  dressings.  We  immediately  distributed  a  sufficiency  of 
beef-stock,  and  other  concentrated  food,  whiskey,  brandy, 
bandages,  etc.,  to  meet  immediate  necessities.  In  the  morning 
we  found  Medical  Director  Letterman  and  delivered  over  to 
him  the  contents  of  the  wagons  left  at  Frederick  and  to  arrive 
that  day,  and,  with  the  remainder  of  the  stores  on  hand,  started 
for  the  battle-field  four  or  five  miles  distant.  The  rebels  had, 
in  their  retreat,  burned  the  bridge  across  the  Catoctin  near 
Middleton.  It  was  not  until  afternoon  that  I  succeeded  in 
crossing  that  stream,  and  it  was  nearly  sunset  when  I  reached 
the  line  of  field  hospitals  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "  Stone  Church," 


REPORT   OF   DR.  LEWIS   H.  STEINER.  31 

filled  with  those  who  were  wounded  along  the  right  of  our 
line.  Keeping  still  in  view  the  smallness  of  the  supply  imme 
diately  in  my  hands,  and  the  transitory  character  of  Held  hos 
pitals,  I  issued  only  for  their  present  necessities ;  and,  worn 
out  with  an  amount  of  labor  and  excitement  surpassing  any 
thing  in  iny  former  experience,  I  spent  a  few  hours  of  fitful 
slumber  in  the  wagon. 

Frequent  firing  during  the  day  following  the  battle  of 
(South  Mountain,  indicated  with  sufficient  clearness  that  sup 
plies  would  be  needed  further  on.  I  accordingly  hired  a  horse 
of  a  farmer  near  the  "  Stone  Church,"  packed  the  remainder 
of  the  stimulants  in  a  bag,  and  a  quantity  of  beef  stock  and 
bandages  in  another,  threw  them,  over  the  saddle,  and  started 
for  the  next  battle-field.  I  arrived  in  Keedysville  early  in 
the  afternoon,  took  a  room  in  the  house  of  Christian  Keedy, 
and  awaited  the  battle  of  the  next  day.  Early  on  the 
17th  the  wounded  began  to  arrive  from  the  field  of  Antie- 
tam,  just  beyond,  and  after  witnessing  a  portion  of  the  battle, 
and  distributing  the  much-needed  stores  among  the  surgeons 
—  hearing  nothing  of  the  wagons  to  arrive  —  I  started  in 
search  of  them  at  three  o'clock  r.  M.  Exchanged  at  the 
South  Mountain  my  hired  horse  for  the  team  I  had  left  the 
day  before,  and  arrived  at  Middletown  after  sunset.  I  here 
ascertained  that  the  wagons  which  had  been  left  at  Frederick 
had  arrived  and  emptied  their  contents  into  the  store-room 
of  the  Medical  Purveyor,  and  was  very  happy  to  meet  Mr. 
Platt  with  two  additional  wagon  loads  of  supplies.  There 
being  a  greater  quantity  of  supplies  in  the  store-house  than 
were  needed  for  immediate  use  in  Middletown,  I  procured  an 
order  for  a  portion  of  those,  and  loading  my  wagon,  started 
again,  this  time  in  company  with  Dr.  Smith  and  Messrs.  Platt 
and  Fay.  and  three  wagon  loads  of  supplies,  at  ten  o'clock 
p.  M.  for  Keedysville.  Immediately  after  breakfast,  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  the  day  after  the  battle,  the  bulk  of 


32  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

these  stores  was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  proper  medical 
authorities,  and  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible  the  surgeons 
along  the  entire  line  of  field  hospitals  were  notified  of  their 
arrival,  and  of  the  proper  mode  of  procuring  them.  This  last 
work  was  kindly  undertaken  by  Medical  Director  Letterman? 
and  faithfully  performed  by  his  assistants.  The  contents  of 
the  third  wagon  were  reserved  for  such  special  distribution  as 
the  peisonal  inspection  of  those  acting  for  the  Sanitary  Com 
mission  might  show  to  be  specially  necessary.  These  were 
all  given  out  during  the  day,  except  a  small  reserve,  which 
was  carried  back  the  next  morning  and  issued  to  the  hospitals 
in  Boonsborough. 

The  work  in  this  special  department  entrusted  to  my 
charge  was  now  accomplished.  The  field  was  fully  occupied, 
or  soon  would  be,  by  agents  of  the  Commission  competent  to 
the  investigation  of  demands,  and  to  the  work  of  supplying 
them.  Our  observation  and  experience  had  shown  the 
necessities  of  the  field,  and  abundant  stores  were  on  their 
way  to  meet  them,  leaving  me  at  liberty  to  resume  my  labors 
in  the  department  of  hospital  and  camp  inspection. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

GEORGE  L.  ANDREW,  Sanitary  Inspector. 
Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  3,  1862. 


On  Sunday  (Sept.  14,)  Mr.  Mitchell  arrived  in  Frederick 
with  two  wagon  loads  of  supplies,  which  were  dispatched  to 
the  front  in  charge  of  Mr.  Platt,  Mr.  Mitchell  himself  follow 
ing  on  Tuesday  with  supplies  that  had  arrived  from  Washing 
ton  on  a  car  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Clark.  Arrangements 
were  made  to  transmit  the  supplies  as  fast  as  they  might 
arrive  in  Frederick,  and  our  wagons,  in  charge  of  intelligent 
gentlemen,  were  forwarded  to  Middletown,  Boonsborough, 
Keedysville  and  Sharpsburg,  reporting  either  to  the  medical 


REPORT  OP  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  33 

officers  of  the  local  hospitals,  or  to  the  Medical  Director  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Dr.  Letterman.  In  this  connec 
tion  I  may  say  that  every  aid  was  given  by  Dr.  L.  towards 
furthering  the  grand  design  of  furnishing  succor  and  relief  to 
the  wounded. 

"With  a  view  of  showing  the  nature  of  the  annoyances 
attendant  upon  the  transportation  of  our  stores  from  Wash 
ington,  and  the  work  done  by  the  gentlemen  in  charge,  the 
reports  of  Thomas  H.  Hays,  and  "W.  Platt,  Junior,  are  given 
in  Appendix  No.  1.  and  ISTo.  2. 

To  illustrate  the  alacrity  with  which  the  call  for  aid  was 
answered,  and  the  energy  with  which  obstacles  were  over 
borne,  let  me  refer  to  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  addressed 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows,  under  date,  "  Mt.  Airy,  near  the 
Potomac,  beyond  Sharpsburg,  September  26th." 

"  It  has  been  my  duty  and  privilege  to  be  the  first  to  see  all 
the  wounded,  and  to  make  records  of  all  the  hospitals  and 
depots  of  the  wounded.  My  report  of  this  work  will  be  made 
simultaneously  to  you  and  to  the  Medical  Director,  and  will 
be  of  some  avail  in  silencing  the  carpers  who  have  been  ex 
citing  the  sympathies  of  the  people  by  narrating  tales  of  woe 
and  false  assertions  of  official  neglect  of  the  wounded  here. 
True,  there  has  been  suffering,  but  none  that  I  could  not,  or 
that  a  soldier  should  not  expect  to  endure  after  such  a  conflict. 
I  have  carefully  read  the  history  of  Military  surgery  and  can 
boldly  assert  that  never  before  in  the  history  of  armies  has  there 
been  a  great  battle  between  such  immense  forces,  with  such 
numbers  of  killed  and  wounded,  in  which  the  surgical  pro 
visions  or  medical  supplies  have  been  so  ample  or  so  promptly 
applied. 

"  By  a  forced  ride  on  horseback  from  Frederick  I  reached  the 
Antietam  on  Friday  at  daybreak  and  immediately  proceeded 
along  the  line  of  the  left  wing  of  our  forces,  nearly  to  the 
3 


3rt  THE   SANITARY   COMMISSION. 

Potomac,  and  thence  across  the  extensive  fields  of  the  battle 
ground,  visiting  every  depot  of  wounded  and  killed  until,  on 
Sunday  evening,  I  had  seen  all  except  three  depots  off  the 
right  of  our  forces.  I  may  here  state,  that  so  late  as  ten  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  I  found  unvisited  and  unknown  depots  of 
small  companies  of  wounded  men,  and  that  in  one  place  so 
visited  that  morning  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  and  remov 
ing  to  a  hospital  four  noble  men,  who,  for  two  days  and  two 
nights  previous  to  the  flight  of  the  enemy,  had  been  compelled 
to  remain  at  the  wheels  of  a  battery,  and  upon  the  earth,  un 
covered,  unfed,  and  utterly  neglected.  One  of  these  men  is  a 
captain,  and  an  educated  and  wealthy  merchant. 

"  As  late  as  Sunday  evening  I  found  two  depots  with  ninety 
wounded  rebels  yet  unvisited  and  in  greatest  need. 

"The  train  of  ambulances  which  had  been  given  me  for  the 
use  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  with  supplies  from  our  depot 
at  Sharpsburg,  enabled  me  to  meet  all  such  wants,  and  a 
number  of  volunteer  surgeons  at  headquarters  were  in  each 
case  on  hand  to  render  surgical  aid. 

"  Previous  to  the  arrival  of  sufficient  supplies  our  sympathies 
were  kept  at  a  fervid  heat,  but  the  fact  that  all  that  was  re 
ceived  was  applied  as  soon  as  it  came  to  the  field,  and  to  those 
who  were  most  in  need,  kept  all  in  hopeful  spirits  and  satisfied 
the  most  captious  lookers-on. 

"  The  Sanitary  Commission  could  not  have  done  more  work 
with  the  means  at  its  command  ;  and  it  will  become  an  historic 
fact  that,  within  eight  days  from  the  occupancy  of  this  field  of 
•  the  Waterloo  of  America/  by  our  forces,  nearly  all  the 
wounded  have  received  ample  supplies  of  hospital  clothing 
from  the  depots  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  r.nd  the  Medical 
Purveyor.  And  much  of  this  result  is  due  to  the  wisdom  of 
the  Executive  Committee  in  providing  independent  and 
special  transportation  for  the  supplies  that  our  patriotic 
women  had,  with  wonderful  forecast,  accumulated  at  the  de 
pots  of  the  Sanitary  Commission. 


REPORT   OF   DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  35 

"  Let  me  say,  in  closing  this  hasty  letter,  that  the  privilege 
of  laboring  in  this  work  more  than  rewards  any  sacrifices  a 
man  can  make  of  his  own  interests.  The  loss  of  all  things, 
even  of  life  itself,  would  be  sweet  if  balanced  against  such 
labors  of  relief. 

1  "  I  will  briefly  add  that  the  Medical  Department  of  this 
army  has  neglected  no  means  of  relief  or  supply.  The  unpre 
cedented  requisition  that  was  sent  forward  by  the  Surgeon 
General  on  the  night  I  left  you  was  barely  enough.  Hoping 
to  meet  you  soon  I  remain  sincerely  yours, 

"ELISHA  HARRIS." 


Drs.  Agnew  and  Harris  succeeded  in  establishing  a  store 
house  of  the  Commission  at  Sharpsburg,  shortly  after  the 
battle  of  Antietam.  Our  wagons  were  unloaded  at  this  placo 
and  thence  sent  to  every  point  where  the  wounded  had  been 
collected.  The  superintendence  of  this  storehouse  was  assign 
ed  to  Dr.  E.  J.  Dunning  of  New  York,  who  devoted  his  time 
and  energies  to  the  work  for  nearly  two  weeks,  aided  by  a 
large  staff  of  zealous  and  active  assistants.  As  the  Medical 
Department  had  been  disappointed  in  the  arrival  of  its 
stores, — the  concentrated  food,  stimulants  and  clothing,  which 
the  liberality  of  the  charitable  people  of  the  North  had 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Commission,  were  issued  to  the 
Hospitals  that  had  been  extemporized  at  every  barn  and 
farmhouse  within  three  miles  of  Sharpsburg.  No  question 
was  asked  as  to  the  State  of  the  regiment  of  the  sufferer,  but 
a  Catholic  and  National  spirit,  recognizing  all  as  entitled  to 
the  benefit  of  our  supplies,  controlled  the  operations  of  those 
connected  with  the  issue  of  articles  from  the  storehouse.  Our 
supply  of  chloroform  was  the  main  dependence  for  many 
hours  at  some  of  the  .Hospitals.  The  medical  officers  of  the 


36  THE   SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

Army  united  with  our  officers  in  the  proper  disposal  of  our 
supplies,  and  I  am  pleased  to  state  that  the  true  relation  of 
the  Sanitary  Commission  to  the  Medical  Department  was 
fully  recognized  and  appreciated  as  a  body  designed  to  suji- 
plement  and  not  supplant  the  regular  operations  of  the 
Army. 

On  Sunday,  21st,  I  visited  the  front  in  company  with  Dr. 
H.  G.  Clark,  (Boston,  Mass.)  whose  valuable  services  on 
several  occasions  have  been  placed  at  the  command  of  the 
Commission,  and  Dr.  Carney.  From  personal  examination 
of  the  plans  of  relief  adopted  by  the  officers  of  the  Com 
mission  I  can  bear  full  testimony  to  their  priceless  value 
to  the  wounded  men  in  all  the  Hospitals.  I  may  state  that, 
in  addition  to  the  regular  force  located  at  Sharpsburg,  I  also 
met  Inspector  Chamberlain  at  one  of  the  field  Hospitals  with 
some  supplies  that  had  been  forwarded  from  Philadelphia 
via  Hagerstown.  A  second  visit,  in  company  with  Mr.  Olm- 
sted  on  the  25th,  satisfied  me  that  the  storehouse  had  become 
"  an  institution  "  of  such  importance  to  the  medical  officers 
that  its  continuance  would  be  necessary  for  some  time  to 
come.  I  therefore  put  Inspector  Crane  in  charge  on  the 
29th.  He  had  been  engaged  for  some  days  before  in  push 
ing  forward  the  Philadelphia  supplies  from  Hagerstown. 
Inspector  Brinck  was  also  on  duty  at  this  point  for  a  few 
days  and  then  reported  for  duty  in  Washington. 

"With  the  view  of  showing  the  nature  and  extent  of  our 
supplies,  I  may  quote  from  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Olmsted 
to  Dr.  Bellows  on  the  23d  ult.,  the  statement  that  within  ten 
days  after  the  Army  of  Virginia  went  to  meet  the  invaders, 
the  Commission  sent  to  its  relief  "  28,763  pieces  of  dry  goods, 
shirts,  towels,  bedticks,  pillows,  &c. ;  30  barrels  of  old  linen 
bandages  and  lint;  3,188  pounds  farina ;  2,620  pounds  con 
densed  milk ;  5,000  pounds  beef  stock  and  canned  meats  ; 
3,000  bottles  wine  and  cordials,  and  several  tons  of  lemons 


REPORT  OF  DR.  LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  37 

and  other  fruit,  crackers,  tea,  sugar,  rubber  cloth,  tin  cups 
and  hospital  conveniences." 

[Tables  showing  the  precise  requisitions  made  by  surgeons  on  the  stores  of 
the  Commission  are  omitted  as  taking  too  much  space.] 

#  #  #  *  *  * 

In  addition  to  these  issues,  the  Commission  succeeded  in 
transporting,  from  the  Medical  Purveyor's  Office  in  New 
York  to  the  depot  in  Frederick,  83  cases  containing  4,000  sets 
of  hospital  clothing  and  20  bales  of  blankets,  at  a  cost  of 
8316.58.  Transportation  was  so  embarrassed  and  crowded 
at  this  time  that  these  stores  were  got  through  in  season  only 
by  the  energy  of  the  Executive  Committee  in  dispatching 
special  agents  to  take  charge  of  them,  at  its  own  expense. 
As  soon  as  these  stores  reached  this  depot  they  were  turned 
over  to  the  Medical  Department  and  issued  as  fast  as  requi 
sitions  were  sent  in. 

The  force  now  representing  the  Commission  and  at  work 
in  this  part  of  Maryland  is  as  follows  : 

f  Lewis  H.  Steiner,  M.  D.,  San.  Ins.  and  Supt., 
I  George  L.  Andrew,  M.  D.,  San.  Inspector, 
Frederick,  -{  Horace  Howard  Furness,  Esq.,  ) 

|  Mr.  Atherton  Blight,  V  Assistants. 

[Mr.  Edwin  R.  Cornwall,  ) 

E.  A.  Crane,  M.  D.,  San.  Inspector. 


Sharpsburg,  '      Assistant, 

[Mr.  Parsons,    ) 

Large  supplies  have  been  issued  from  the  Frederick  depot 
to  the  Hospitals  in  Frederick  and  its  neighborhood.  The 
requisitions  on  which  these  were  issued  have  been  tabulated 
with  the  following  results.  (See  Tables  M,  N,  O,  P.) 

[These  details  are  omitted  as  too  bulky.] 
#  *  *  *  •*  * 

The  late  battles  have  shown  how  important  it  is  that  a 
certain  amount  of  transportation  should  be  under  the  exclu- 


38  THE  SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

sive  control  of  the  Medical  Department.  Immediately  after 
an  engagement,  there  has  always  been  a  difficulty  in  getting 
medical  and  hospital  supplies  to  the  places  where  they  are 
most  needed.  Subsistence  for  the  well  soldiers,  and  ord 
nance,  generally  monopolize  all  the  transportation  in  posses 
sion  of  the  Quartermaster.  The  Medical  Department  is  for 
gotten  and  practically  thrust  aside. 

A  deficiency  of  regular  military  surgical  assistance  after  a 
great  battle  is  inevitable.  The  Commission  seeks  to  supply  the 
want  by  details  made  from  the  private  practitioners  of  our  large 
cities.  Heretofore  demands  for  aid  of  this  kind  have  been 
responded  to  by  a  rush  of  professional  volunteers,  some  good 
and  reliable,  some  inexperienced  and  unreliable.  Hence  there 
have  been  instances  of  treatment  far  from  creditable  to  surgi 
cal  science  or  advantageous  to  the  patient.  This  might  be 
obviated  by  the  selection  of  a  certain  number  of  experienced 
surgeons,  who  would  be  willing  to  respond  to  such  calls,  and 
in  whom  the  utmost  reliance  might  be  placed  by  the  medical 
officers,  whose  aids  they  would  be  for  the  time  being.  Our 
soldiers  are  willing  to  brave  death  on  the  battle-field  ;  let  them 
not  be  obliged  to  brave  inexperienced  and  ignorant  surgery 
beside.  Too  many  practitioners,  styling  themselves  "  active 
men"  hasten  to  the  field,  not  with  the  view  of  assisting  in  what 
ever  may  require  aid,  but  for  the  purpose  of  "  operating" — of 
fleshing  unsoiled  blades.  With  such  men  conservative  surgery 
is  an  unmeaning  word.  The  reserve  corps  of  volunteer  sur 
geons  might  be  formed  under  the  auspices  of  the  Medical 
Bureau,  or  of  the  Sanitary  Commission.  The  necessity  of  such 
an  organization  is  urgent,  as  a  statement  made  me  by  a  med 
ical  officer  engaged  at  the  Confederate  hospital  near  Sharps- 
burg  will  clearly  show.  He  states  that  when  a  number  of  the 
volunteer  surgeons  proposed  returning  home,  Dr.  Ranch,  (sur 
geon  in  charge  of  the  hospital,)  objected  on  account  of  tlio 
number  of  cases  requiring  constant  attention.  Tho  answer 


REPORT   OF   DR.   LEWIS  H.  STEINER.  39 

was,  "  We  have  done  up  all  the  amputations  and  resections, 
and  there  is  no  further  need  of  our  services/7  My  informant 
proceeded  to  examine  the  cases  that  had  been  attended  and 
operated  on  by  those  very  medical  men,  and  found  recently 
amputated  stumps  filled  with  maggots  and  pus,  and  patients  in 
a  condition  of  unhealthiness  and  depression  that  showed  utter 
negligence  on  the  part  of  their  medical  attendants. 

A  number  of  self-styled  "  Commissions,"*  Relief  Societies, 
Charitable  Associations  and  Philanthropic  Clubs  have  been  rep 
resented  on  the  field  and  in  the  hospitals  since  the  late  engage 
ments.  Their  agents  have  been  actuated  by  the  best  motives. 
They  have  doubtless  done  some  good.  A  few  of  them  have 
drawn  from  our  own  stores,  and  at  times  emplo}Ted  our  own 
means  of  transportation,  but  have  never  acknowledged  either, 
although  they  have  received  special  commendation  for  their 
labors  from  the  press.  A  spirit  of  State  charity,  seeking  out 
not  wounded  Federal  soldiers,  but  the  wounded  from  their 
own  special  State,  or  even  their  own  special  county  or  town, 
has  guided  these  organizations.  They  have  thus  done  positive 
mischief  to  the  National  cause. 

Instead  of  laboring  to  destroy  the  spirit  of  State  Rights, 
which,  in  various  forms,  seems  to  underlie  the  whole  of  the 
Rebellion,  they  have  furnished  incentives  for  its  preservation. 
We  demand  that  the  soldier  should  be  well  cared-for,  not  be 
cause  he  is  from  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Ohio,  or  any  other 
State,  but  because  he  is  in  the  United  States  Army.  We 

*  The  word  "  Commission"  has  been  strangely  misused  of  late.  A  "  Commis 
sion"  is  a  body  of  men  commissioned  by  Government  to  make  certain  inquiries 
or  do  certain  work.  We  have  Military  Commissions,' for  instance,  appointed  to 
investigate  the  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  to  report  on  the  merits  of  new 
projectiles,  and  a  "Sanitary  Commission"  to  aid  Government  in  preserving  the 
health  and  efficiency  of  our  soldiers.  The  Sanitary  Commission  introduced  the 
word  into  popular  favor,  and  it  is  now  generally  used  as  a  vague,  indefinite 
synonym  of  "  Committee."  Hence  we  have  so-called  "  Commissions"  without  end, 
none  of  which  possess  the  authority  from  Government  and  the  relations  with 
Government  that  give  meaning  and  value  to  the  title  they  assume. 


40  THE   SANITARY  COMMISSION. 

feel  it  our  duty  to  bring  aid  to  any  and  every  soldier 
in  the  army.  His  highest  claim  to  our  attention  and  sympa 
thy  being  the  fact  that  he  is  there. 

Hon.  Frank  B.  Fay  and  Miss  Helen  L.  Gilson,  (Chelsea, 
Mass.,)  have  been  laboring  with  untiring  zeal  and  most  earn 
est  fidelity  at  or  near  Keedysville,  since  the  battle  of  Antietam, 
and  Mr.  C.  B.  Barclay,  of  Philadelphia,  has  been  actively  en 
gaged  wherever  want  and  suffering  were  greatest.  These 
philanthropic  patriots  are  examples  worthy  of  all  imitation  on 
the  part  of  those  who  aim  to  keep  the  good  deeds  which  their 
right  hands  do  from  the  knowledge  of  the  world.  I  am 
pleased  to  record  their  names  as  among  those  whose  labors 
have  been  more  or  less  aided  by  the  supplies  which  the  Com 
mission  kept  on  hand  in  its  store  houses. 

In  concluding  this  Report  I  have  to  acknowledge  myself 
indebted  to  the  Central  Office  for  its  prompt  attention  to  tele 
grams  ordering  supplies;  to  Mr.  Olrnsted  for  his  advice  and 
interest  in  my  field  of  labor ;  to  Drs.  Agnew  and  Harris  for 
faithful  and  earnest  attention  to  the  immediate  wants  of  the 
Field  Hospitals  around  Sharpsburg  ;  and  to  Mr.W.  Platt,  Jr., 
of  Philadelphia,  for  one  entire  week  of  invaluable  ser 
vice,  in  conveying  supplies  to  the  field,  and  aiding  in  the 
general  duties  of  the  Frederick  office.  It  is  proper 
that  the  name  of  this  pure-hearted,  Christian  patriot  should 
be  honored  in  connection  with  our  labors  in  the  Maryland 
campaign,  as  he  contracted  the  seeds  of  disease  while  on  duty 
there  that,  in  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  ended  his  life  of  useful 
ness, — as  truly  offered  up  in  the  cause  of  his  country  as  if  he 
had  been  killed  on  the  battle  field. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

LEWIS   II.  STEINER, 

San.  Inspector. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 

Report  of  "W.  PLATT,  Jux.,  in  charge  of  tlic  Expedition  with  supplies  from 
Washington  to  the  Battlefield  of  Antietam. 

DR.  J.  FOSTER  JENKINS  : 

Dear  Sir, — In  pursuance  of  your  request  of  13th  inst,  I  went  with  the 
four-horse  team  of  Hospital  Stores  on  the  way  to  Rockville,  arriving 
there  at  nine  p.  M.  There  were  no  sick  on  the  way  and  few  stragglers. 
I  found  the  Hospital  at  Rockville  under  the  charge  of  Surgeon  Lewis, 
U.  S.  A.,  with  about  325  patients,  most  of  them  light  cases.  Mrs.  Harris 
was  also  there  with  some  stores.  They  were  in  want  of  some  few  arti 
cles,  such  as  bed-sacks,  tin  cups,  biscuit,  &c.,  which  we  left  with  them. 

September  14. — Started  at  10  A.  M.,  and  went  eighteen  miles,  stopping 
frequently  to  relieve  sick  stragglers,  who  were  becoming  quite  numerous. 

15th. — Started  at  G  A.  M.,  and  reached  Frederick  at  11  A.  M.,  and  re 
ported  to  Dr.  Spencer,  who  requested  us  to  proceed  in  the  afternoon  to 
Middletown  and  deliver  the  remainder  of  our  supplies  to  Dr.  Thompson, 
in  charge  of  the  hospital  there,  and  meanwhile  to  leave  at  Frederick 
such  articles  as  were  wanted.  We  left  at  Frederick  a  few  stimulants, 
and  reached  Middletown  at  7  p.  M.,  and  left  the  remainder  of  the  load. 

16th. — Returned  to  Frederick  and  took  the  team  to  the  Junction, 
loaded  it  from  a  car,  and  delivered  it  at  the  hospital  at  Frederick,  and 
the  wagon  was  returned  to  Washington. 

17th. — Loaded  the  wagon  belonging  to  the  Commission,  and  a  four- 
mule  team  with  stores  from  a  car  at.  the  junction,  after  much  delay, 
owing  to  the  great  number  of  cars  on  the  road,  and  went  to  Middletown, 
arriving  at  9  p.  M.,  and  were  joined  by  Drs.  Andrew  and  Smith,  and  Mr. 
F.  Fay,  with  another  team;  proceeded  at  11  p.  M.  to  Boonsboro1,  and 
thence  to  Keedysville,  where  we  halted  for  the  night,  (one  mile  this 
side,)  and  arrived  at  headquarters,  near  that  place,  at  9  o'clock  on  the 
18th,  Thursday.  It  was  decided  by  Drs.  Letterman,  Smith  and  Andrew 
that  the  supplies  (the  first  received)  should  be  distributed  among  the 
hospitals  at  headquarters,  the  greater  part  at  the  outer  station  where 
many  wounded  were  being  brought  in.  This  was  satisfactorily  accom 
plished,  and  requisitions  from  various  Brigades  were  filled,  and  at  5 
p.  M.  we  started  to  return,  arriving  on  19th,  at  6  A.  M.  at  Frederick,  and 
were  quite  unsuccessful  in  getting  further  supplies  from  the  car  which 
should  have  been  up  the  day  before. 

20 th. — The  car  not  yet  arrived;  but  there  wore  50  ambulances  witk 


4:2  APPENDIX. 

wounded,  which  had  been  from  some  unaccountable  cause  kept  waiting 
for  twenty-four  hours.  These  men  needed  much  attention  in  having  their 
bandages  renewed  and  moistened,  and  in  being  helped  into  a  train,  which 
had  at  last  been  prepared  for  them — all  which  occupied  me  for  several 
hours.  There  is  much  to  be  done  at  Frederick  in  attending  to  the  wants 
of  these  parties  of  wounded  and  sick,  and  I  earnestly  call  your  attention 
to  it. 

24th. — From  the  20th  to  24th  I  have  been  occupied  in  regulating  the 
movements  of  trains  and  acting  for  thirty-six  hours  in  Dr.  Steiner's 
place. 

I  also  call  your  attention  to  the  superior  facilities  afforded  by  the  rail 
road  in  placing  your  supplies  where  they  are  wanted,  in  economy  both 
of  time  and  money. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

W.  PLATT,  Jux. 


No.  II. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  Associates  of  the  United  States  San 
itary  Commission,  held  on  the  26th  November  the  following  resolutions 
were  unanimously  adopted. 

Resolved,  That  the  Philadelphia  Associates  of  the  Sanitary  Commis 
sion  have  learned,  with  the  deepest  sorrow,  the  death  of  their  late  most 
faithful  superintendent,  William  Platt,  Jr.,  Esquire,  who  fell  a  victim  to 
disease  contracted  on  the  battle  fields  of  Maryland,  in  the  service  of  the 
Commission,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  highest  duties  of  humanity  and 
patriotism. 

Resolved,  That  the  Associates  desire  to  record  their  high  apprecia 
tion  of  the  character  of  Mr.  Platt,  and  of  his  invaluable  labors  in  the 
cause  of  the  Sanitary  Commission. 

Accepting  the  invitation  of  the  Executive  Committee,  in  June  last,  to 
undertake  the  superintendence  of  the  business  of  the  Philadelphia  agen 
cy,  Mr.  Platt  devoted  all  the  force  of  a  highly  energetic,  though  gentle 
character,  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  post.  Giving  his  whole 
time,  and  applying  remarkable  vigor  to  the  business  of  the  agency,  he 
soon  brought  it  to  a  state  of  efficiency  not  previously  reached,  while  his 
judicious  and  effective  applications  to  the  friends  of  the  Commission 
brought  its  claims  under  general  notice  in  Philadelphia,  and  rapidly  filled 
its  treasury,  so  that  the  contributions,  which,  on  his  entering  on  his  of 
fice  in  June  last,  were  but  eight  thousand  dollars,  had,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  in  November,  exceeded  the  sum  of  forty  thousand  dollars,  an 
increase  which  the  associates  ascribe  almost  wholly  to  the  labors  of  Mr  i 
Platt,  and  of  an  agent  of  his  own  designation. 

All  the  services  of  Mr.  Platt  were  rendered  gratuitously.     When  the 


APPENDIX.  43 

battles  in  Maryland  were  impending  in  September  last,  Mr.  Platt  hast 
ened  to  Washington,  and  volunteered  to  take  charge  of  a  wagon  train 
of  hospital  stores,  for  use  in  the  field.  Visiting  and  supplying  the  hos 
pitals  at  Rockville,  Frederick,  and  Middle-town,  and  reinforced  with 
other  supplies  forwarded  by  the  Commission,  he  left  Middletown  at  11 
o'clock  at  night,  on  the  17th  of  September,  and  proceeded  with  his  train 
of  wagons  to  Boonsborough,  and  thence  to  Keedysville,  and  arrived  at 
the  headquarters  of  the  army  at  9  o'clock  the  next  morning.  His  own 
modest  official  report  of  his  services  omits  mention  of  the  fact  that,  as 
he  came  within  sound  of  the  cannon,  he  quickened  his  speed,  driving 
the  leading  wagon  himself,  and,  when  darkness  threatened  to  delay  the 
train,  he  left  it  and  walked  in  advance,  carrying  a  lantern,  and  compel 
ling  the  reluctant  drivers  to  follow. 

The  supplies  of  the  Commission  thus  brought  to  the  battle  field  by 
Mr.  Platt  anticipated  those  forwarded  by  the  Government,  and  were  at 
once  distributed  by  the  medical  director  and  surgeons  of  the  army,  to 
the  unspeakable  relief  of  the  sufferers. 

But  Mr.  Platt's  earnestness  was  not  satisfied  with  mere  direction  and 
supervision.  On  the  20th  September,  as  the  ambulances  appeared  bring 
ing  the  sufferers  from  the  bloody  battle  field  of  Antietam,  but  unaccom 
panied  by  competent  assistance  for  their  removal,  Mr.  Platt  gave  himself 
up  for  a  long  time  to  this  arduous  service,  carrying  the  wounded  in  his 
arms  to  places  of  shelter,  and  there  rendering  them  the  tenderest  offices  of 
a  nurse.  Thus  engrossed,  he  overtasked  himself,  and  through  fatigue 
and  exposure  contracted  the  disease  which,  on  the  22d  of  November, 
brought  to  a  close,  in  his  37th  year,  his  short  but  well  spent  life. 

To  those  who  knew  and  loved  him  in  the  relations  of  private  life,  and 
particularly  as  an  active  member  of  the  church  which  he  adorned  by  a 
consistent  Christian  conversation,  no  public  record  is  needed  of  his 
modest  virtues.  But  as  he  fell  in  the  service  of  his  country — a  willing 
offering  in  the  noblest  cause — his  life  has  become  part  of  its  public  his 
tory,  and  it  is,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Philadelphia  Associates  of  the  Sanitary  Commission 
desire  to  perpetuate  their  estimate  of  the  services  and  worth  of  their 
late  friend  and  officer  by  some  enduring  memorial,  and  they  therefore 
most  respectfully  request  the  family  of  Mr.  Platt,  and  the  vestry  of  St. 
Thomas's  Church,  "Whitemarsh,  (of  which  he  was  warden,)  to  allow  them 
to  erect  in  that  Church  a  mural  tablet  to  his  memory. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  Resolutions  be  communicated  to  the  fam 
ily  of  Mr.  Platt,  and  to  the  vestry  of  St.  Thomas's  Church,  with  the  as 
surance  of  the  most  sincere  sympathy  of  the  Associates  in  their  loss. 

Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  Resolutions  be  published. 

HORACE   BINKEY,  JR.,  CHAIRMAN. 

EDWARD  HARTSIIORX,  Secretary. 


ERRATUM.— Pago  35,  6th  line  from  bottom  of  page,  for  the  words  "  of  the  regiment ' 
read  "  or  the  regiment." 


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